TrekToday posted on Saturday afternoon a “review” of the pilot script for “Enterprise,” the fifth live-action TV series to be set in the Star Trek universe.
Is the review positive? Enormously. But remember: for all we know, it could have been authored by an employee of Viacom. “I am convinced that ‘Enterprise’ could have a crack at being the best Star Trek series to date,” says the reviewer, identified by TrekToday only as “one of our sources.”
How much can this review be trusted? The only negative thing the reviewer has to say about the pilot script is this: “There were a few continuity errors in the draft that I saw, though they should all be corrected by now.” The reviewer also offers glancing criticism of the premise of “Star Trek: Voyager” and the quality of its acting.
There’s a link to the review at the bottom of the page, but here’s a Herculean “FAQ Summary” for those of you who just want to jump to the juicy bits. From here on out, we assume the reviewer has his facts straight.
When is the series set?
How much can this review be trusted? The only negative thing the reviewer has to say about the pilot script is this: “There were a few continuity errors in the draft that I saw, though they should all be corrected by now.” The reviewer also offers glancing criticism of the premise of “Star Trek: Voyager” and the quality of its acting.
There’s a link to the review at the bottom of the page, but here’s a Herculean “FAQ Summary” for those of you who just want to jump to the juicy bits. From here on out, we assume the reviewer has his facts straight.
When is the series set?
When is the series set?
After humanity’s first meeting with the Vulcans (as depicted in the movie “Star Trek: First Contact”), and about five to ten years before the founding of the Federation.
Is there really a Vulcan aboard this early Enterprise?
Yes.
How can this be? I thought Mr. Spock was the first Vulcan to serve aboard a Starfleet vessel!
Ah, but this Enterprise is not a Starfleet vessel. Starfleet doesn’t exist at this point.
Then what’s a Vulcan doing aboard anyway?
According to the reviewer, keeping an eye on things. Apparently the Vulcans aren’t certain they like the idea of humans traveling the galaxy at warp speed.
Does the pilot center around humanity’s first contact with the Klingons?
Yes. A Klingon, fleeing from a heretofore unmentioned species called the Suliban, crash-lands on Earth. A human soon after inflicts a critical injury to the Klingon, but does not kill him. The humans and Vulcans disagree about what to do with the Klingon: the Terrans want to return him to the Klingon homeworld; the Vulcans say such an act would be viewed by the Klingons as a disgrace.
What are the Klingon’s pursuers like?
They can “change their skeletal structure.”
How is the Enterprise involved?
After the humans discard the Vulcanian advice, Enterprise captain Jackson Archer is charged with transporting the Klingon home.
What’s the ship’s technology like?
More primitive that the original series’. “All switches and buttons,” says the reviewer. I’m thinking Captain Proton.
How fast can this Enterprise go?
Warp four.
Will it have an ongoing mission?
Perhaps not. The reviewer makes reference to the fact that, due to warp technology limitations, the ship might be spending a lot of time in its home Sol system.
Do the humans have artificial gravity at this point?
Yes, via something called a “gravity well.” (Ironically, the gravity well is the one place on the ship that is gravity-free.)
Have phasers been invented?
Not quite. There is something called a “phase pistol.”
What about tractor beams?
Nope. Look for grappling hooks like the ones that rescued the Andromeda in another recent starship series pilot.
What about transporters?
Surprisingly perhaps, there are transporters.
What about universal translators?
Not ones that can tackle unknown languages. The absence of such a translator is apparently what leads to the Klingon being attacked by a human.
Are the humans able to communicate with the Klingons at all?
Yes. An “exo-linguist” named Hoshi Sato is able to engineer at least some translation.
Assuming there will be no lengthy writers or actors strikes, “Enterprise” is likely to debut on UPN this autumn.
Read the whole TrekToday review here.
Herc here with an update (posting now at 7:55 p.m. PT Sunday) from AICN's reliable pal "Viacom Girl":
NEGOTIATIONS ARE BACK ON WITH SCOTT BAKULA. THE IMPASSE CAME AT POTENTIAL MONEY INCREASES OVER THE SEVEN YEAR RUN OF THE NEXT STAR TREK SHOW, AS WELL AS HOW MUCH CREATIVE SAY THE ACTOR WOULD BE GIVEN. (HE WAS GIVEN AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TITLE ON HIS LAST CBS SERIES, APPARENTLY.) BAKULA WANTS A LOT OF DOUGH, BUT ALSO WANTS APPROVAL AND VETO RIGHTS NOT GIVEN TO PAST STAR TREK ACTORS. NEVERTHELESS, PHONE CALLS FROM THE PRESS TO UPN AND PARAMOUNT CONTEND THAT BAKULA IS STILL NOT IN THE RUNNING.
